Electric switch



C. C. STIRLING.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION mso Aua.14. 1918.

Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

In VEHDr A 7 am neg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE C. STIRLING, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE HART &

HEGEMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A COR- PORATION 0F CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CLARENCE C. STIR- LING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric switches. While it is conceivable that the device may be incorporated, in switches of various kinds, they are of particular utility when associated with one of the pendent snap type. provide a structure which is exceedingly simple, which can be readily made and the parts of which can be quickly assembled, the action being positive and certain.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification I have shown in detail a form of embodiment of the invention which to enable those skilled in the art to practise the same will be set forth fully in the following description. I do not necessarily limit myself to this particular construction; I may depart therefrom in several respects within the scope of the invention defined by the claims following said description. v

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical side elevation of a switch involving the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Y l

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The switch includes in its make-up a suitable body such for instance as that denoted in a general way by 2 and made of some convenient insulating material such as usulally found in pendent switches. As shown the body has in its under portion the chainber or cavity 3, open in its under side or bottom. Besides this there is in s aidbody the slot L1, the lower portion of which intersects the chamber or cavity 3, and the top of which is in the plane of the upper surface of the body 2. The body 2 is surrounded by a casing or housing such as 5, generally of sheet metal and in two sections separably connected by a slip or other jointv for instance as found in pendent snap switches. The casingk or shell 5 extends short distance above the body'2 and has a practically central opening in which is fitted an iiisulating ring or bushing as 6 through which pass the wires 7 and 8, the bared ends of which are connected with terminals in the housing. One terminal or contact is such a one as that denoted in a general way by 9. The shank of this terminal lies in a groove or channel as 10 in one wall of the slot or opening 4, said shank terminating at its upper end in a bend or off-set 11 fitted in an aperture 12 cutting the groove or channel 10. The off-set 11 is in turn provided with a pendent portion 13 embedded in a seat 14 in the body 2. Tapped through the off-set 11 is the screw 15 around which may be passed the bared portion of the conductor 7. The body of the terminal or contact 9 is deflected outwardly between its ends the angular portion of said body tting against the correspondingly shaped outer surface of the channel or groove 10. The free end of the said terminal or contact 9 is practically against an outer surface of the chamber or cavity 3 and is also in proximity to an actuator hereinafter more particularly described. There is molded into the upper side of the body 2 the metal or other conducting plug as 16 which is threaded to receive the screw 17 around which is passed the bared end of the conductor or wire 8, the head of said screw 17 serving to force the wire against the metal plug 16. This metal plug 16 has a transverse bore 18 in register with a cylindrical opening 19 extending entirely across the body 2, the two parts of the opening 19 and the opening 18 receiving as shown for rocking or oscillating motion, the pin 20 of metal or other conducting material.

The actuator for the switch may be of .any desirable character, that denoted in a general way by 21 meeting my conditions in a proper manner. As shown this actuator consists of a portion as 22 provided with a manipulating portion or button 23 and a second portion as 24 furnished with a button as 25 of insulating material, comple mental to the button 23. The part of the actuator between the two buttons extends through registering holes in the body 2 and casing 5, the buttons being obviouslyexterior of the casing so as to be operated when occasion requires. The portion 24: is of metal or other conducting material excepting of course, the button 25 which is of some suitable insulating substance. It has at its -inner end the threaded portion 26 fitted in a central socket in the end of the insulating portion 22 which in the present case eX- tends unbrokenly from the portion orseo-A tion 24 to and including the button 23. YIn theiinsalating ypart vof ,the actuator such as between the ends of the section or portion 22 is an annular groove as 27 while a similar 10.- groove as 28 is formed in the conducting 1 portion or section 24.

VThe circuit controller or switching mem- Y ber may Vlike the other parts within certainv limits vary. That shown is denotedin a l54 general way by 29. It involves at its lower end a loop 30 through which passes the 'actuator '21 between the two buttons 23 and 25. The side branches-of the loop 30 are continu'ed upwardly as at 31 .and these branches crossing and terminating in prolongations or arms 33 and 34 parallel with eachother and which project-nearth'eirtree ei'idsfireelyV through openings inthe pivot lor pin 20. Nhile the snap movement-may be 2 5 secured in any desirable way the coiled spring 35 answers satisfactorily' l'in this connection,

- the lupperteri'ninal 'of' the spring having an eye 36'titting a circumferential groove as 37 in the pin 0r pivot 20 between 'the arms" 33 and 34. The lower terminal :of the'spring v has an eye v39 which embraces' the prolongations 3l 'and 32 where they cross.

The groovesv 27 and'23 to which I have vreferred constitute a suitable retaining or 'detent meanslto-positively hold the vswitching' member 29y in its #respective positions.

' 45 the switching vor circuit controlling member i 29 being carried 'therewith and' the pivot 20 at the same time being rocked and obviously thegspring 35'being stretched. Themotion will continue 'until the loop 30A strikes the right wallof the chamber or `soclret 5, so that ont a' slight further movement toward the right in said Fig. l of said actuator 2l, the

- loop-30 will be slipped'out of the groove 27 Y and` thus be automatically disengaged from the' restraining eect'o'l the detent or holding groove 27. 'As soonl as this particular condition ensues, the power of the stretched .Y Aspring will'come vinto action and then snap said, switching member 29 from the ydotted 'v to ,the-full 'line position in Fig. l, so that the` -lQ'op 30 willbe projected` into the groove or v`channell 28 which it will be remembered is in' conducting material.

tact o'r terminal 9,' metal portion 24, circuit Vpartly of "insulating material.

in this event the circuit will-be 4closed through the wire 7, concontrolling or switching ineniber'129,*pivot 20, plug `16', and wire 8. To open'y the circuit the button 23 :onf the rightv then inthe dotted position, will be moved toward the left, thus vcarrying the circuit controller or switching Vmember 29 and spring therewith as the pivot -20-.rocks, the motion continuing untilthe switching member Strikes the left wall of the chamber or cavity 3 at which point on the slight further advance. .of the actuator toward the yleft fthe' switching "member 29 will' be dislodgedffromthe groove 28 and snapped into the Igroove 27.

desi'reto -call attention toV certanpoints.

A It willbe'noticed that the'actuator or `push 80 rod' 2l .is partly ot 'conducting lmaterial and Associated withthis actuator is a switching member, contacter orfcontactxniaker which in a certain relation as have-alreadyexplained makes 'contact j with the* condi'icting 'part' oig the actuator. I-also'deem itmlesirable 'to call attention tothe fact that thespring by which .the necessary snap movement is obtained is always'iirparallelism With-tho switching 90 member or swinging contacter, this switching 4memberor contacter, "althou'ghfit Vdoes have a rocking or 1' swinging ymotion, really slides", thefsliding actionzas a matter of fact cii'ectmg the swinging motion. Y 95 WVhat I claim` is:

l. A 'switch comprisingan actuator having; insulatingand conducting portions, a movable" switchingmeinber having a dislodgable `connection with v1the"actuator, jtheiactuator on" its` movementy carrying the switching member lltherewi'th, f a`1iXed vpart: against which the Switching member is abutted' on the movementA 'offthe actuator, the latter having a i'iir'ther movement,beyond the point at which the* switchinginemberl'engages the fixed part, and' spriliiglmeans 'conditioned by the-actuatoron each-"of its movements,` iior shifting the switching` member"when it is freed 1from* the actuator 3on vsaid`=opp0site movements into alternate engagement with the insulatingland conducting portions ot the actuator..

2. A' Vswitch comprising 'f an actuator having' insu] atingf and I' 'conducting' portions, a

' supi'iolting body which carries the actuator,

a swinging'swit'chingmember.having a dis-- lodgable c'cnnectionwith. theactnator, the actuatorfon `its*fmovement 'cari'. switchingy member f-therewi th relatively fiXedpart 4ofthe ibody, whereby on the` continuedV movement oi"- the actuator' the switching AVmember will bofi'reed from. the actuator-,f and spring lineans swinging with the-switching -`-ine1nbe1f-when `moved bythe 125 actuator, to impart alcontinuedrmovement to the switchingfmeinber when the Asame isl'treedY by the actuator.

31A switch comprrsing'anactuatory having insulating-and conducting' portions, 130

supporting body which carries the actuator, a swinging switching member having a dislodgable connection with the actuator, the actuator on its movement carrying the switching member therewith and against a relatively fixed part of the body, whereby on the continued movement of the actuator the switching member will be freed from the actuator, and a spring movable with the switching member and conditioned by the movement of the actuator to shift the switching member when it is freed from the actuator to cause the switching member to engage the insulating and conducting portions in alternation.

a. A switch comprising a back and forth movable actuator having insulating and conducting portions, a supporting body which carries the actuator, a swinging switching member having dislodgable connections with the actuator on opposite movements thereof, the actuator on'each movement of the switching member carrying the switching member therewith and against the body, whereby on the continued movement of the actuator in each direction the switching` member will be freed from the actuator, and spring means conditioned by the actuator on each of its movements for shifting the switching` member when it is freed from the actuator on said opposite movements into engagement alternately with said insulating and conducting portions.

5. A switch comprising an 'actuator having insulating and conducting portions, a swinging switching member having a dislodgable connection with theactuator, the actuator on its movement carrying the switching member therewith, a fixed part against which the switching member is abutted on the movement of the actuator, the latter having a further movement beyond the point at which the switching member engages the fixed part, and spring means to swing with the switching member and conditioned to impart a snap movement to said switching member when the same is dislodged from the actuator and to engage insulating and conducting portions in alternation.

6. A switch comprising a reciprocatory push rod, constituting an actuator partly of conducting material and partly of insulating material, a swinging switching member movable by the push rod, and spring means conditioned by the push rod for imparting a snap movement to the switching member to more the same alternately into engagement with the conducting and insulating portions of the push rod.

7. A switch comprising a switching member mounted for swinging and slidable movements, a spring tending constantly to produce the sliding movement and the sliding movement in turn producing `the .swinging movement, and an actuator having insulating and conducting portions for conditioning the spring to impart a snap movement to the switching member and thus cause the latter alternately to engage said insulating and conducting portions.

8. A switch comprising an actuator in the form of a push rod, partly of conducting material and partly of insulating material, a switching member having a dislodgable connection with the actuator, the actuator on each of its movements carrying the switching member therewith, a fixed part against which the switching member is abuttedon the movements of the actuator, the latter having a further movement beyond the point at which the switching member engages the fixed part, and spring means conditioned by the actuator on the initial part of each movement of the actuator to complete the movement of the switching member, the conducting portion of the actuator constituting part of the circuit of the switch.

9. A switch comprising an insulating supporting body, a rocking pivot carried by the supporting body, a contact electrically connected with said pivot, a push rod extending through the body and provided with manipulating portions and also having insulating and conducting portions7 each grooved, a circuit controlling member having a loop to embrace the actuator and also having a slidable connection with said pivot, a second Contact cooperative with said circuit controlling member, and a spring having a connection with the switching member adjacent the actuator and also having a loop connection with said pivot.

10. An electric switch comprising a pushrod of conducting and insulating materials, a swinging slidable switching member to be swung by the push-rod, and a spring movable with the switching member and tending constantly to apply a pull to the switching member and at the same time maintaining the switch in operative connection with the push-rod, the push-rod having a dislodgable connection with the switching member and on its movement being adapted to move the switching member against a fixed part to thus disengage the same from the push-rod and the push-rod on each movement thereof tensioning the spring and the tensioned spring when the switching member is thus disengaged from the lpush-rod, applying a snap to the switching member to cause the switching member to be moved alternately into engagement with the insulatingand conducting portions of the actuator.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE C. STIRLING.

Witnesses:

L. L. MARKEL, HEATH SUTHERLAND. 

